31st Parliamentary Intelligence-Security forum – Telecom/Infrastructure

Mr. John Strand challenged prevailing European media narratives on U.S. security policy, arguing that American national security priorities are largely aligned with Europe’s strategic interests despite frequent mischaracterizations. He criticized Europe’s uneven support for Ukraine, highlighting sharp disparities in military aid contributions and noting that a small group of countries—such as Denmark and Norway—have shouldered a disproportionate share while much larger economies have contributed relatively little, undermining credibility and deterrence.

Strand warned that Europe’s vulnerabilities extend beyond military aid to critical digital infrastructure. He emphasized that modern societies depend entirely on secure digital networks, yet many European states continue to rely heavily on Chinese equipment in 5G, cloud services, rail  communications, surveillance systems, and data storage, even near sensitive political and military sites, despite commitments to reduce exposure to high-risk vendors.

He concluded by warning that the rapid global expansion of Chinese digital infrastructure and AI platforms poses long-term strategic risks due to a lack of transparency over data control. Rather than immediate “rip-and-replace” policies, he urged governments to stop new procurement from high-risk vendors, transition gradually to trusted alternatives, and take greater responsibility for safeguarding digital sovereignty, transatlantic security, and democratic resilience.